EXCLUSIVE: Kenya Police Advised to Secure Talented Striker Before CAF Champions League Debut

As they prepare for their inaugural season in the 2025/26 CAF Champions League, the recently crowned Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League champions, Kenya Police FC, have been advised to strengthen their squad, particularly by securing a potent striker.

The law enforcement team will proudly represent Kenya in the lucrative inter-club tournament set to commence in September, following their historic achievement of winning their first league title. They clinched the championship with a decisive 1-0 victory over Shabana on Sunday, June 15th, ensuring they were crowned champions with a game in hand.

However, they had to wait until their final match of the season on June 22nd, where they drew 1-1 with Gor Mahia, to lift the trophy. Police finished the campaign with 65 points, six clear of second-placed Gor Mahia, while Kakamega Homeboyz secured third place with 58 points.

Under Burundian coach Etienne Ndayiragije, the team turned their fortunes around after a shaky start to the season, having been at the bottom of the 18-team league after the first nine games. This prompted the management to part ways with coaches Anthony Kimani and Salim Babu.

By late November, Ndayiragije took the helm of the team, which was struggling in 17th place and facing the threat of relegation. The former coach of the Burundi national team and Azam FC in Tanzania managed to instil stability and success, guiding the team to a remarkable league title.

Kenya Police recorded 18 victories, 11 draws, and five losses, while Gor Mahia achieved 16 wins, 11 draws, and seven defeats.

Prioritise acquiring a potent striker

Former AFC Leopards and Harambee Stars midfielder Charles Okwemba has advocated for Kenya Police to focus on enhancing their squad by acquiring a reliable striker as they embark on their Champions League journey.

The 45-year-old emphasised the need for a competitive team capable of winning matches in the CAF tournament. He noted that achieving a successful campaign is feasible only with an experienced squad familiar with high-level competition.

In the recently concluded season, Police scored 38 goals across 34 fixtures, conceding 17. Gor Mahia led in scoring with 47 goals while allowing 24, and Bidco United posted the lowest with only 21 goals.

“With their current squad, do you think they can progress beyond the group stage of the Champions League?” Okwemba questioned, adding, “For success in the group stages, there’s no shortcut; they must bolster their squad with marquee signings both from abroad and locally.”

In addition to recruiting new players, Okwemba believes Kenya Police should aim for friendly matches against top African clubs to assess their readiness before the Champions League group stage begins.

“Priority should also be given to securing competitive friendlies, even if it necessitates a trip to Europe; this will provide essential insights for the coaching staff regarding their preparedness. They can also arrange matches over the borders,” Okwemba suggested.

“Clubs from neighbouring Tanzania, such as Simba SC and Young Africans (Yanga SC), have experienced significant success in inter-club competitions of late, and Police should consult with them to understand how to excel beyond the initial knockout rounds.”

Okwemba concluded: “The management must ensure players’ fitness and conditioning levels are enhanced to endure full match durations, unlike this season, where fatigue plagued performances, especially in the latter stages of games. The coaching team should instill a winning mentality in the players.”

Nonetheless, Okwemba commended the Police management for successfully dethroning Gor Mahia, asserting that with the same determination, they can prepare the team for a successful Champions League journey.

“They appear to have substantial financial backing from their employer and sponsors, so I firmly believe that recognising the significance of competing in the Champions League, the management will amplify their efforts to ensure the team’s success. I have every confidence in their ability to deliver, as evidenced by their league victory,” Okwemba stated.

Last season, Kenya Police participated in the CAF Confederation Cup after winning the FKF Cup but fell short in the second preliminary round. They faced Ethiopian Coffee in the first preliminary round, managing a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Nairobi, before clinching a 1-0 win in the return leg in Addis Ababa to proceed on an aggregate score of 1-0, subsequently facing Zamalek of Egypt in the second preliminary round. There, they lost the first leg 1-0 at home before succumbing to a 2-1 defeat in Cairo, resulting in an aggregate elimination of 3-1.

Gor Mahia struggled when it mattered

According to Okwemba, Gor Mahia’s pursuit of a third consecutive Premier League title faltered due to deficiencies in critical areas, compounded by disruptions affecting the technical bench.

K’Ogalo had a frustrating season opener that led to the dismissal of Brazilian coach Leonardo Martins Neiva after just six matches owing to poor results, with his assistants Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno and Michael Nam stepping in as interim replacements.

“Gor Mahia’s struggles this season can be attributed to their inability to perform at crucial moments, lacking quality in key areas and grappling with issues within their technical department,” responded Okwemba.

Reflecting on the shift in power atop the Premier League after two seasons, Okwemba remarked: “The change in dominance could invigorate other ‘sleeping giants’ to ramp up their efforts, aiming to mount a stronger challenge against Police for the title next season.”

Besides Police, other teams that secured their places in the Champions League include Al Ahly SC, RS Berkane, AS FAR, Pyramids FC, Esperance Sportive de Tunis, US Monastir, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, Simba SC, Young Africans, Rahimo, FC Nouadhibou, Al Hilal, Al Merreikh, Petro Atletico, Remo Stars, Vipers SC, Mangasport, Fassell, Lioli, and Aigle Noir.